Just over 200 people enjoyed an unforgettable night of NAIDOC celebration on Thursday, July 9, 2015, when Bart Willoughby rocked the biggest, deadliest Klub Koori ever.

Held at Carriageworks in Sydney, the event was officially opened with a welcome to country delivered by Donna Ingram, followed by a welcome from event MC and Koori Radio BlackChat host, Lola Forester. Folk duo Microwave Jenny (Brendon Boney and Tessa Nuku) were the first act to take to the stage, followed by Leah Flanagan, playing electric guitar and ukulele.

In between sets, Lola Forester interviewed crowd members, asking a broad range of guests what this year’s NAIDOC theme, ‘standing on sacred ground’, meant to them. By the time iconic Aboriginal reggae-rocker Bart Willoughby strode on to the stage and launched into his set, singing and playing drums, the dance floor was well and truly jumping. After playing the first song of his set solo, Bart was joined by Brenda Gifford and jazz pianist Kevin Hunt for the rest of the evening. Bart closed his set performing Indigenous anthems ‘Aboriginal Woman’, and, ‘We Have Survived’, with all performers from the night joining him on stage to close the show in style.

The entire event was broadcast live by Koori Radio on 93.7FM, as well as the ABC who closed their NAIDOC Week radio programming with their own live national broadcast of the evening. “It was so great to see a full-house, and people from all walks of life come out to support Koori Radio, sharing stories about sacred land, and filing the dance floor,” said Gadigal Artists Development Coordinator, Danielle Tuwai. “Big thanks to Andrea James and the technical crew at Carriageworks, as well as Gadigal staff and broadcasters for making Klub Koori at Carriageworks such a successful night. “More Klub Koori events are planned for later in the year.